Yuuri Katsuki was a dime-a-dozen architecture student at St. Petersburg State University. He was hard-working, dedicated, studious…and currently on the verge of losing his damn mind. His life was in absolute turmoil, and it was only Wednesday. At night, he was slowly and sweetly being tortured by the most vivid and erotic dreams he'd ever had in his entire life. He was going through boxers and bedsheets at breakneck speed, all while struggling to get everything washed without Phichit suspecting that there was anything wrong. During the day, his neck throbbed painfully, distracting him from his studies.

He was currently sitting in Architecture Drafting and Design class, struggling to focus and pay attention to the lecturer, but failing miserably. The dream from last night had been particularly lucid and was unlike the others in the sense that he still clearly remembered all the details, even so many hours after waking up. To say that he had been shocked by the contents of those dreams was a complete and utter understatement. As his mind relived scenes from the dream for what was likely the millionth time that morning, his face went atomic fallout red and blood rushed south, making his jeans uncomfortably tight once more. Yuuri took a few deep and calming breaths and shook his head in a herculean effort to clear the images and will that certain part of him back to sleep. Slowly but surely, that certain part of him seemed to quiet back down once more, and he was able to make it through the rest of the class…just barely. As soon as the class was over, however, he bolted for the nearest men's room and holed himself up in a securely-locked stall.

His neck was throbbing something fierce and his dick seemed to be swelling rhythmically in response. He clumsily unbuttoned his pants, his hands shaking and fumbling things in his haste to get them off. Finally free, he allowed them to fall around his ankles before leaning over the toilet bowl and taking his hardened flesh into his right hand. He then leaned forward and braced himself on the wall in front of him with his left hand in a sort of half-superman pose. The flimsy mental barrier he'd managed to set up for himself earlier broke, and the images from the dream flooded back into his mind once more. He scrunched his eyes closed and whimpered at the immediate and powerful effect they had on him.

/start dream recall sequence/

His body was on fire, a deep and ardent blaze that left him feeling as if he were smoldering from the inside. His skin blazed with heat, embers seemingly oozing from his every pore and igniting as they swirled and danced across its surface. He was so very uncomfortably hot, pain shooting up from his bones as if his marrow had been replaced by molten lava. He felt like he was dying, slowly being roasted alive in his own body.

And then, he was saved. As he'd been reaching out blindly in the hazy darkness, he came in contact with something cold. Words cannot describe the relief that the coldness instantly brought him. He latched onto it and held on as if his life depended on it. Something deep inside him told him that it probably did. The coldness quieted the flames somewhat, and brought him clarity. He was finally able to see, the scene slowly bleeding in from the edges of his sight as his vision returned to him. To his sheer astonishment, directly in front of him…was Viktor. Kami, the foreign man was devastatingly handsome. He recalled the instant attraction he'd had to the man, and how he'd been rendered awestruck by his exotic features the moment he'd burst into his bedroom that Sunday morning. Just looking at him did things to his body he had never experienced while looking at anyone else. That attraction bubbled up inside him and he was a bit surprised to suddenly find himself as naked as the day he was born, severely aroused, and holding Viktor's hand. Normally, he'd be mortified and trying to hide in shame at finding himself in such an impossible situation, but was instead strangely and helplessly enthralled. He was completely lost to lust at the moment and could only stare wantonly at the alluring man with the short silver hair and the stunning ruby-red eyes.

As the fires raged on within him, he sought out more of that soothing coldness. He brought Viktor's hand up to his face, sighing as the palm side splayed out against his feverish skin. Then he heard his name and the next thing he knew, soothing icy hands were running along his face, neck and upper chest. He closed his eyes and savored the cooling sensation on his skin, imagining the steam that was practically rising from all the places his skin was in contact with Viktor's. The delectable sensation ceased abruptly and he was boiling again, bereft of the frosty solace. He thankfully wasn't left alone for very long, for suddenly Viktor was also naked and in bed next to him. His mind couldn't quite comprehend why Viktor felt so cold, or why it felt so damn good to him, but he craved it and felt as if he couldn't live without it. His modesty be damned, if this was a dream…then he might as well take full advantage of the scenario presented before him.

He pushed his body flush against Viktor's and wrapped his arms around the man's waist. He felt a soft and gentle snuffling against his hair and the action further spurred him on. He decided to be a bit bolder and began grinding his arousal against Viktor's own. He was feeling pretty good about how things were going until he heard a feral-sounding growl and immediately stilled, freezing in place at the sound. Shit! Was Viktor mad? Was it too much? Was he being too forward? Did Viktor actually not want this? Something reassuring was said and he was able to relax, even daring to lift his head to stare into Viktor's glowing red orbs. He licked his lips as he stared, begging for something he couldn't name. He was woefully inexperienced when it came down to all things sex, and this dream was the closest he'd ever been to the deed. It felt so irrefutably real, more so than any dream should feel. His thoughts came to a screeching halt when Viktor began grinding back against him, and he descended into the depths of ecstasy. Kami, the man's body was pure sin and bliss. Viktor's hands were on his hips and pulled him repeatedly and mercilessly toward his wintry body, causing their hardened cocks to grind and slide indecently against one another. He could hear the bawdy and salacious noises being emitted from his own mouth and felt himself getting more aroused at how obscene he sounded. He should have been burning up with embarrassment, but instead melted under the heat of his desire. Then, without warning, he was on his back and Viktor was straddling him, taking them both into his hand.

His soul nearly separated from his physical body at the touch. There was pleasure, so much pleasure. He'd never had any hand on his cock but his own, and suddenly having it in Viktor's hand and pushed up against the man's eagerly pulsing cock was almost too much for him to bear. He could feel himself writhing shamelessly on the bed and heard his own lewd moans reverberating off the walls in the room. His whole body thrummed with euphoria, and his mind was so overwhelmed with delirium that he couldn't think straight anymore. He barely registered being pulled upright and settled onto Viktor's lap, and the next thing he knew he was being expertly kissed, luscious lips dancing hypnotically over his own.

A metallic tang filled his mouth and he was hit with the fleeting realization that he must have cut his lips or something. He didn't have too much time to contemplate this new development though, because when they finally pulled apart, Viktor's red eyes were all he could see. They grew larger and larger, filling more of his mind until he saw nothing else. His thoughts grew cloudy and he felt an abrupt and severe compulsion to never take his eyes off the man. He readily allowed the sentiment to fill his mind, for Viktor was an exquisitely ethereal specimen of beauty, and he'd gladly stare at him forever. His pleasure intensified briefly thereafter as he felt Viktor's grip tightening further around them and encompassing more of them both. When Viktor started thrusting his hips forward, his whole body pulsed and sang, and all he could do was feel. The burning fire reignited in the pit of his stomach and he could feel the onset of the familiar coiling sensation. Then Viktor's voice rang out in his mind, clear as bell; 'Come for me Yuuri'…

/End dream recall sequence/

Yuuri bit into a section of his sweater just above his bicep as his entire body practically convulsed in rapture. As he came violently into the toilet, spurts of cum splattered onto the rim of the bowl and floor despite his best aiming efforts. He held his bite long and hard, allowing only a few errant grunts to escape, until every drop had been finally spilled. Satisfied that he wouldn't be making any more noises, he released the hold on his sweater and leaned forward until his forehead was resting against the cool tiles on the wall. His knees wobbled and trembled as he fought to keep himself upright, his body weak after such a tremendous release. He panted and gasped for breath for a solid minute before he was able to have his body fully under control once more. Kami, the dream had been SO real. Even now, as he closed his eyes, he could actually recall the way that Viktor's cool skin had felt against his own and how…

Yuuri groaned as he felt his dick beginning to stir in interest once more. He had to stop thinking about the dream or he'd never leave the bathroom, nor make it to any of his classes. He reached for the toilet paper dispenser and grabbed a handful. He cleaned up, making sure he didn't have any pieces of paper stuck to himself before tucking back into his jeans. Then he reached for more paper and moved to clean up the mess he'd made. After all the evidence was flushed away, he grabbed his things before unlocking the door. As he stepped out, the door to the stall next to his opened as well and another male student came out. Yuuri shuffled awkwardly to the sink, immediately self-conscious and worried that the guy had heard him or something. As he quickly washed his hands at the sink, the man next to him spoke in English with an accent he guessed was from somewhere in the southern United States.

"You know what, man? Sometimes you've just to rub one out. Ain't no shame in that."

Yuuri turned beet-red and would have brought his hands up to his face had they not been wet and completely covered in soap. The man tipped his head at him and wished him a nice day before finally exiting the bathroom, leaving behind a sputtering and rather mortified Japanese man.

Somehow, he made it through the rest of the day, and when the professor at the last class finally dismissed them, he'd felt an indescribable sense of relief. He booked it back to the dorm and flopped, face down, onto the only sofa in the small living room area as soon as he'd made it inside. He groaned loudly as he allowed his body to sink into the upholstery and form to its shape. He was absolutely exhausted from the colossal efforts to survive the day and was finally able to allow himself to relax. His peace was disturbed not even twenty minutes later, when he heard the lock being turned, announcing Phichit's arrival.

"Yuuuri! I'm so glad you're home! I just got some free dessert vouchers for that Swiss patisserie that's having its grand opening tonight! You've got to come with me!"

Yuuri moaned plaintively as he lifted his head to look up at his roommate, pausing to straighten the glasses on his face.

"I'm a bit tired right now, but I think that I will definitely be able to gather enough strength later for the sake of a good dessert."

Phichit came around to the front of the sofa and knelt down until his face with level with Yuuri's.

"You're going to have to dig really deep for that strength buddy, and do it now. They've set things up so that people go into the tasting in thirty-minute batches. The vouchers I've got are for a batch that starts in thirty minutes. So we're gonna have to hustle."

Yuuri mumbled and grumbled under his breath, but still managed to push himself into an upright sitting position. He stretched his arms languidly above his head and yawned before crossing his arms and turning to Phichit.

"This better be the most earth-shattering dessert tasting in the whole universe, or you'll owe me big time."

Phichit threw his arms around him in a surprisingly strong bear hug.

"It's a deal!"

They made it to the new patisserie in just under twenty minutes, since it had been built on prime real estate quite close to campus. They waited in line, shifting from foot to foot in the descending evening chill of Russian fall. Yuuri examined the shop's exterior, humming in approval at the dark wood motif, appropriately chocolate-toned. It had very overt references to Swiss architecture and looked like an upscale chalet that wouldn't be out of place in the Alps. The sign was in French, and it read "La Petite Mort au Chocolat". Other than the word 'chocolat' which he assumed meant chocolate, Yuuri had no idea what the sign meant. He'd have to Google it later. The batch number corresponding to Phichit's vouchers was called and they moved to the front of the line, handing them off to the burly man guarding the door.

They were escorted to a table for two and took their seats, watching excitedly as the other tables filled up quickly around them. Once every seat in the establishment was happily occupied, the lights dimmed and a spotlight was turned on at the back corner. Out stepped a foreign man in a black satin suit and matching tie. He had short and slightly spiky blonde hair on top with shorter, almost shaved hair at the sides. Yuuri guessed that the blonde was not his natural hair color as the shorter shaved hair was of a darker shade. The foreign man's eyes were a stunning shade of jade and seemed to glow with mischief from across the room. He was slim, but had an athletic build that filled out his expensive-looking designer suit quite well. He was handed a microphone and when he spoke, it was with a French accent.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen! My name is Christophe Giacometti and I'd like to personally welcome you to the grand opening tasting of my newest business venture; La Petite Mort Au Chocolat. I wish you all an orgasmic experience."

The room erupted in polite applause and delighted laughter and murmurs filled the air as the crowd's anticipation grew. Mr. Giacometti then made the same announcement in Italian, French and then German, with a translator stepping in to assist with the Russian version. Mr. Giacometti bowed and waved gracefully at the crowd before excusing himself to oversee the last-minute preparations at the back. An attendant of sorts stepped forward and spelled out the procedure for their first experience at La Petite Mort Au Chocolat. Each patron would be presented with a tray containing samples of five of their most famous desserts, with a sixth one to be brought out once the other five were consumed. There was a very specific order in which the desserts would be consumed, and they were to eat one of the salted soda crackers provided to them between each dessert to 'cleanse the palate', before washing it down with a sip of water. They were assured that every action they took tonight was specially designed to extract the maximum flavor and enjoyment of each dessert. Phichit leaned in across the table and motioned for Yuuri to come closer.

"Rich people sure like to add a lot of fancy steps to their dessert eating. I'm just happy to shovel chocolate into my mouth like the uncultured peasant that I am."

Yuuri covered his mouth as he fought down a fit of giggles. He removed his hand and nodded in agreement.

"If being a dessert peasant is wrong, I don't want to be right."

The light in the room was brought up to full brightness and a seemingly never-ending line of handsome and snappily-dressed servers began to pour out of the door he assumed led to the kitchens. Two beautiful trays containing five mouth-watering little samples were brought to their table and set down in smooth and practiced movements. Phichit immediately had his phone out, snapping pictures from every possible angle and with every imaginable filter. He was going to be quite busy getting them all posted on Instagram later. Next to each tray was a small card with the name of each dessert; in the order in which it was to be consumed, as well as a brief description. A comment card was also provided and would be collected once the tasting was over. They were wished bon appetit and then the tasting officially began.

Yuuri looked at the names on the list and recognized quite a few of them. Carac, Chocolate Madeleines, Chocolate Éclair, Chocolate Rum Ball, Black Forest Cake, and Chocolate Soufflé. He didn't think himself much of a dessert snob, and had never eaten anything fancier than artisanal mochi back in Japan, but had been expecting things with fancier names. He knew that there were high-quality chocolates and desserts out there, but had never given them much thought nor imagined them to be that much different than the regular stuff he ate. Boy, had he ever been wrong! The first bite of the first pastry pretty much had his mind blown in ways he hadn't thought possible. There was something about it that was unlike anything he'd ever tasted. His eyes widened at that first bite and he looked across the table to see a similar look on Phichit's face. When Yuuri looked around at the other patrons, he saw people in various stages of exaltation. Some had their eyes closed, while others were caught in wide-eyed surprise like he and Phichit were. The room was filled with appreciative moans, and if you didn't know that there was a dessert tasting in progress, you would imagine something much more risqué and lewd going on.

"Oh my God Yuuri, I renounce my past life as a dessert peasant and pledge my allegiance to the dessert snob elite. Fuck, this is the most amazing thing I've ever tasted."

Yuuri nodded eagerly at his roommate. He was completely blown away by something that looked like a simple chocolate tart.

"Kami Phichit, and this is only the first one."

…

The tasting was over in just twenty minutes, and Yuuri would forever remember them as some of the best twenty minutes of his entire life. Each item had been more delicious than the one before it, all with nearly imperceptible hints of something that helped boost the flavor to the next level. The soufflé was placed last because it literally needed to be served fresh out of the oven, and it had been the crowning jewel of the whole experience. It was dusted beautifully with cocoa and its center was deliciously molten. Yuuri couldn't speak for Phichit, but he was going to be having some very indecent fantasies about that soufflé for quite some time to come. The man named Christophe Giacometti had stopped at each table briefly throughout the entire tasting, and asked each patron which had been their favorite dessert and why. As he'd approached their table, he'd winked cheekily at Yuuri and blown a kiss Phichit's way.

"Good evening my handsome chers. I trust that you had a fantastic experience?"

Phichit was the first to reply, jumping in and gushing about everything from the décor, to the servers and then the actual desserts. Mr. Giacometti bowed toward the young Thai man and thanked him for his generous praise before asking him which dessert had been his favorite. Phichit did not hesitate to declare his love for the Black Forest Cake, stating that it was just too perfect and that he couldn't possibly choose any specific component as his favorite. Then the green-eyed patisseur turned to Yuuri and asked him the same. Yuuri pondered his answer thoughtfully for a few seconds before naming the soufflé as his favorite. The man smiled politely at Yuuri before replying to his comment.

"Ah, it was perfectly cooked was it not? There's nothing more memorable than a fluffy pinnacle of perfection."

"True, but there was much more to this soufflé than meets the eye. It had these coffee undertones that really amped up the dark chocolate and...something else I'm not sure of the English name for...some kind of exotic spice."

Mr. Giacometti's eyes widened briefly, and he looked ready to ask Yuuri to elaborate on his answer when an attendant was suddenly at his side and whispering something into his ear. The Swiss man nodded in response and turned to excuse himself from their table.

"I'm sorry cheri, duty calls. Please make sure you fill out the comment card and let me know the name of the spice you tasted, okay?"

Yuuri nodded and then had his hand picked up and lifted to Mr. Giacometti's lips, a soft kiss placed on top of it.

"Have a good night, gentlemen. Please come again! I still have many more orgasms to offer you."

When the man left, Phichit was immediately at his side, elbowing him in the ribs.

"Oh my God, he's so hot. That was so hot. Did you not think that that was so hot? I'm so hot right now."

Face slightly flushed, Yuuri could only nod weakly in agreement.

Yuuri got back home to the dorm, showered and got down to business. He had a few assignments to finish and a test to study for, so he locked himself up in his room and systematically crossed everything off his to-do list. Phichit had gotten used to Yuuri's guerilla-style studying tactics, and wasn't really that bothered anymore when Yuuri disappeared for entire evenings at a time. At just after 1 a.m, Yuuri yawned and got up from his chair, swiveling his hips around and doing a few stretches as he tried to work through some of the stiffness. He poured himself a glass of water from the bottle he always kept in his room, chugging it down in a few gulps before going to the shared bathroom to brush his teeth. He yawned again on the way back to his room, thinking about how lucky he was that Thursdays were his late-start days, with his first class only starting at 10. He would be able to get a few extra precious hours of sleep, and was very much looking forward to them. He slid under the covers and breathed out a sigh of relief as he sank into the soft mattress. He let out one last gargantuan yawn before rolling onto his side and immediately falling asleep.

/Start dream sequence/

He was in a shower, the cold water raining down little drops of heaven onto his hot skin. When he opened his eyes, he saw that he wasn't alone. Viktor was there with him, and that revelation alone was enough to spark the fires of lust within him once more. He surprised Viktor by pinning him against the shower wall and then taking one of his fingers into his mouth. While part of him was severely embarrassed by what he was doing, the other part noticed Viktor's reaction to him and reveled in how the man's pupils immediately dilated with pleasure. He closed his eyes and swirled his tongue around Viktor's finger, imagining something longer and much harder in his mouth instead. As he continued lavishing attention on Viktor's finger, something strange happened in his mouth and it suddenly felt as if his teeth no longer fit inside it. As he tried to rearrange things more comfortably in his mouth, he was suddenly hit with an irresistibly addictive flavor. He doubled down on his efforts and couldn't hold back the moans as the incredible taste filled his mouth. The next thing he knew, it was his turn to be pinned against the wall, with Viktor seemingly chastising him for something or other.

And then, sweet Kami...Viktor's tongue was on his body and his mind just about went blank. Viktor's mouth, although cold like the rest of him, somehow trailed fire in its wake. It blazed along his collarbone and then up his neck, stopping to nibble mercilessly on his earlobes, before nipping its way back down to his nipples. On and on the torment went, little nibbles turning into harder and more intense nips as the hot mouth continued its journey south. Yuuri found himself unable to speak, as only whimpers, cries and mewls came out in response to Viktor's actions. When Viktor took him into his mouth in one fell swoop, his heart just about stopped in his chest. He heard the sound of his own scream and could feel his hips bucking forward, chasing that amazing feeling of all-encompassing heart being offered by Viktor's mouth. The man's tongue expertly traveled his full length as his cock bobbed in and out of that incredible mouth. When he felt Viktor's hand on his sac, he knew he wouldn't last much longer. He wanted to hold on longer and make the pleasure last, but in the end he was simply too overwhelmed, and spilled into Viktor's waiting cavern.

/End Dream Sequence/

Yuuri woke with a start to the sound of his alarm going off, and an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. He immediately sat up in bed, noticing that he was absolutely covered in sweat and with an all-too familiar sticky feeling in his boxers. Another inexplicably vivid dream, another pair of soiled undergarments. Kami, these dreams of Viktor just kept getting increasingly more real and hard to ignore. He rubbed absentmindedly at his throbbing neck before reaching for his glasses on the nightstand. He knew that Phichit was thankfully already in class and wouldn't be there to question his waddle of shame to the bathroom. He turned on the shower stepping under the hot stream of water while still wearing his dirty boxers. He pulled them off in the shower and then washed them by hand before moving on to wash his hair and the rest of his body. Once fully dressed, he went into the kitchen for some quick breakfast. On the table was a short note from Phichit.

Hi Yuuri!

I'm so glad you enjoyed the dessert tasting last night. If I had known just how much you'd enjoy it, I would have tried to get more vouchers. Whether it was the handsome Swiss patisseur that you really liked, or that magical soufflé that had you so smitten...something in your dreams had you really going last night! Hope you didn't cement yourself to the bed and were able to get yourself to class in one piece. Catch you later!

P.

Yuuri moaned, instantly mortified that Phichit had actually heard his wet dream last night. He crumpled the note up and tossed it into the trash, blushing furiously and suddenly with a lack of appetite. He grabbed an apple and an orange and shoved them into his bag, doing one last check of his room for any items left behind, and then leaving for class. In the midst of yet another day of trying to survive classes with a raging erection and a pulsing neck, he received a rather pleasant surprise. As he was quickly checking his email, he noticed a new one from a C. Giacometti titled 'Congratulations!'. He opened it up during the short break between classes, excited to see what it was all about.

Dearest Yuuri,

Your comment card was selected in a lucky draw held last night after our opening day launch. I will be available at the patisserie tonight from 6 pm to 10 pm, please let me know if you are able to drop by during this time. Congratulations, cheri! I look forward to seeing you again later!

Yours forever and always,

Christophe.

Yuuri's heart skipped a beat as he read and reread the email. His last class ended at 6 pm and he was certainly free after that. He had no idea what he'd won, but anything that came from La Petite Mort Au Chocolat was bound to be a winner, regardless. He hit reply and thanked Mr. Giacometti for his email and stated that he would be available to meet him at 6:30 pm that evening. Mr. Giacometti replied with his confirmation immediately, and just like that, their meeting was set.

Yuuri arrived at the patisserie to find it a very different place from the night before. It was closed for business today, as everyone had apparently been given the day off to recover from the opening night festivities. Mr. Giacometti greeted him at the door, also looking completely different the night before. He was in a plain pair of jeans, mint-green turtleneck sweater and dark-framed glasses. He greeted Yuuri warmly and welcomed him inside.

"Mr. Katsuki, welcome! May I call you Yuuri? Please call me Christophe! Please, please...come in and have a seat."

Yuuri sat down on the chair Christophe had graciously pulled out for him and set his backpack on a nearby empty chair. The Swiss man asked him if he wanted a hot drink and he nodded. When asked what he wanted to drink, he left the decision up to Christophe. He had a feeling that the man had impeccable taste and that he'd be more than happy with anything he came up with. Less than five minutes later, Yuuri was enjoying the most delicious piping hot mug of café mocha he'd ever had. It was topped with whipped cream and had a sinful hint of spice in it.

"This is absolutely delicious, Mr. Gia...I mean...Chistophe. The hit of cinnamon is a really nice touch."

Christophe smiled and thanked him, but Yuuri noticed that his gaze had sharpened considerably and he was looking at him with much more interest than before.

"Tell me, Yuuri. Have you ever been a professional taster before?"

Yuuri was a bit caught off-guard by the question. Him...as professional taster? He never imagined his palate being anywhere discerning enough for a job like that.

"Uhh, no...I have not."

Christophe tapped his chin pensively as he stared across the table at Yuuri.

"I'm just curious as to how you were able to pick up on the very minute amounts of ingredients I have added to my desserts. Not even the food critics I had in last night had the slightest clue, but you nailed every single one."

Yuuri was beginning to feel rather confused. He had come here to collect a prize, had he not? Why did it feel like he was being interrogated suddenly?

"I'm not sure I understand. What do you mean by that?"

"Well, I was initially surprised when you mentioned the coffee and cardamom in the soufflé and thought that it might have just been a fluke, but then I read your comment card and noticed that it was far from it."

Christophe pulled a piece of paper out of his jeans pocket and flattened it onto the table. Yuuri immediately recognized it as his comment card.

"You picked up the amaretto in the Carac, the pistachio in the Madeleines, the bourbon in the éclair cream, the nutmeg in the rum ball, and the vanilla in the cherries of the Black Forest. First, I was absolutely astounded, and thought perhaps that you have the God's Tongue and can taste the minute components of any dish. Then I started to worry that you might be a corporate spy sent to steal my recipes."

Yuuri waved his hands defensively in front of him as he vehemently shook his head in denial. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he'd been duped and that there had never been a lucky draw and he hadn't won anything. He'd been lured out here for questioning.

"I'm not a spy and I don't have a magic tongue, I swear! Food has just tasted better this week for some reason. That's all there is to it, truly!"

Yuuri had started to feel really stressed by the situation, and his neck began tingling in response. He brought a hand up to it and rubbed it like he usually did, not noticing the way Christophe's eyes widened as he did so.

"Ah, I see how it is, now. You've been tasting things better in the last week, non? Have you by chance met any pale and mysterious beings this week, Yuuri? Perhaps someone with enticing red eyes?"

Yuuri's head shot up at the mention of red eyes and he immediately recalled all the times he'd seen red eyes in visions and his dreams. He swallowed thickly as he fought to keep his cool. He would try to play it as if he didn't know what Christophe was talking about and maybe gather some more information.

"I don't think that I have. What makes you say that?"

Christophe kept his steely green gaze trained on Yuuri's face as he leaned in closer.

"You haven't had any strange...dreams or visions this week? Dreams or visions so realistic and powerful that they elicited strong...physical reactions from your body?"

Yuuri swallowed again, practically feeling his face burning up at the man's line of questioning. He was so hot and flustered, and wanted nothing more than to bury his face in something and hide until it all went away. He sensed some movement from across the table and lifted his eyes just enough to see Christophe reach into his sweater. The man pulled out a silver chain with an exquisite silver cross dangling from it. It was beautifully carved and had a red stone at its center. Christophe removed the necklace and placed it on the table. He kept staring at Yuuri, as if expecting him to say something.

"Well?"

Yuuri looked back and forth between the necklace and Christophe's face.

"Uhh, it's...really pretty?"

Christophe's eyes widened for the second time that night and he stared incredulously at the young Japanese sitting across from him.

"You don't know what this is, do you?"

"Um, it's an ornate cross on a chain?"

"Mon dieu, you really have no idea."

Yuuri shrugged his shoulders helplessly as he shook his head.

"I guess I don't. What is it?"

"It is, firstly and most importantly; a talisman. It clearly defines your status and your protector, thereby keeping you safe from other supernatural beings."

It was Yuuri's eyes' turn to grow wide as he was completely filled with disbelief.

"S-s-supernatural? Certainly you must be joking. I haven't encountered any supernatural beings and I don't plan to, ever."

Christophe laughed, a deep and throaty sound.

"Mon cher, you already have. There are supernatural beings all around us. They masquerade as humans and are even able to deceive our eyes into believing the illusions they present to us. Most are harmless and know to stay away from humans. Others pose a more severe threat, and that's what this talisman is for."

Yuuri's mouth fell open and all he could do was stare at Christophe as it hung agape in disbelief.

"This talisman was a gift from my beloved, a vampire lord named Bernard. We have been together for...many years now...and this is a symbol of his love for me."

Christophe pointed to the red jewel at the center of the cross.

"This is filled with Bernard's blood and any supernatural being who tries to lay their filthy hands on me will be blown back by the protective magic within."

Yuuri's eyes slowly lowered and he stared down at the red ornament. It had appeared to be a simple red jewel at first, but the more he looked at it, the more he realized that it actually did look like a small vial of blood. He pushed the chair back and stood up, taking a step away from the table. Christophe was immediately on his feet as well.

"Yuuri, calm down. I know that this may be a lot to take in, but you must know the truth. I believe you have met a vampire and that he has fed on you, and that you most likely had his blood as well. Something else must have happened though for you to not remember any of this."

Yuuri was in shock. He couldn't possibly be actually hearing all these things. His mind was certainly playing tricks on him again. He fumbled blindly until he found his backpack, quickly grabbing it along with his coat and began backing up toward the door.

"Yuuri, listen. It all makes sense. Your neck is hurting you because that's where you got bitten. The visions and dreams you keep having aren't actually dreams, they're memories. Your sense of taste is so amazing right now because that's a lingering side effect of consuming vampire blood. It's why I'm in this business and why I am so successful. The café mocha I gave you today literally had the tiniest pinch of cinnamon in it, but you picked up on it anyway. The vampire you met must want something more from you, because most people don't survive an encounter with one. They're either dead shortly after or they wake up as one."

Red eyes. Vampires. Blood. Talismans. It was too much for Yuuri to take in at once. He turned on his heel and ran out of the shop, not stopping until he'd safely made it back to the dorm. He made a beeline for his room, throwing his backpack and coat on the floor before jumping onto his bed. He held his knees in close and rocked himself back and forth, heart pounding in his ears and neck throbbing more painfully than ever. He wanted to discount everything Christophe had said as sheer nonsense. He wanted to pretend like it didn't all ring true to him at all. But too many of the things the man had said made sense to him, and they all currently swirled madly inside his brain, slowly driving him insane. He had to know the truth, he had to find out if there was even the slightest possibility that any of it was true. He resolved, right there and then, to confront Viktor about it all.

...

Friday flew by in a complete blur, and Yuuri mechanically went about attending all his classes and doing everything that needed to be done. He was like a mindless zombie in the way he shuffled around campus all day. When Friday night rolled around, he packed his backpack and set out the clothes that he would be wearing for the drive and subsequent hike. He was up before sunrise and out on the road shortly after waking up. He drove there in silence, arriving in record time, since he already knew the route this time around. He parked his bike in the familiar parking lot and began the hike to the secret manor in the woods. His memory of the shortcut Viktor had shown him was also quite fresh and he got there in half the time. He gasped upon seeing the stunning home once more, resplendent in the early morning light. He raised his hand to knock on the door, but then decided first to see if it was unlocked. It was. He turned the knob and opened the door, stepping into the house and closing the door behind him.

He made his way quietly through the house, poking his head in a few rooms but finding them empty. Where the hell is he? I don't hear Makkachin either. He suddenly felt guilty for showing up unannounced. He hadn't really thought of the possibility that Viktor might be out or busy with something. He kept walking though, and soon found himself in the marbled foyer with the grand staircase. He had made it halfway up the impressive staircase when he heard the sound of steps coming from the top. He halted his climb and looked up, surprised to find Viktor suddenly standing there.

"Yuuuuuuuri! Welcome back! It's so good..."

Yuuri raised his right hand and pointed a finger at the man who was standing at the top of the stairs.

"Y-Y-YOU! What the hell did you do to me?"

Viktor quirked his head to the side and stared quizzically at the young Japanese man.

"Which part would you like to know about first?"

Yuuri was incredulous. Had he just heard correctly? Was Viktor admitting that he'd done something to him?

"Viktor...are you...are you a vampire?"

The man's eyes grew wide with wonder and his face lit up with the most dazzling smile possible.

"Why yes, Yuuri! Bravo! Yes, I am!"

_terminology_

La Petite Mort – the sensation of post-orgasm as likened to death.

Au chocolat – chocolate - so all put together, it means 'the chocolate orgasm.'